However, the jury was more skeptical of his claims of self-defense than the jury George Zimmerman faced just three years ago, when he was acquitted of murder charges after shooting and killing Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old unarmed black teenager.

The shooting, and subsequent acquittal, is still seen as a launch-point for the Black Lives Matter movement.

"No matter how you feel about George Zimmerman, he he can still be a victim of a crime, and he was in this case," Assistant State Attorney Stewart Stone told jurors, the Sentinel reported.

Zimmerman and Apperson's feud was related to the Black Lives Matter movement: When Zimmerman attempted to auction off the gun used in Trayvon Martin's shooting to raise funds, he referred to Apperson as a "BLM Sympathizer."